ADAMS, Mass. — Partners Matthew Farrar and David Mendelsohn are looking to restore the Adams Ale House at 8-10 East Hoosac St.
The pub was last open in 2018 and there were hopes of finding a potential buyer but none came through and the building hasn't been open since.
Mendelsohn, who owns Brothers Restoration Services, was asked to come and restore the building for the market last year and decided to buy it. The purchase from Zing Financial LLC closed on Sept. 27 for $194,000.
Farrar, who is an ordained minister, wanted to do something in his retirement and was looking to buy another restaurant building but was pointed toward Mendelsohn and decided to become partners on the Adams Ale House project.
Their work is only just started. The two are just cleaning up the space are hoping to run some fundraisers to help them reopen.
"We want to bring it back to community stuff. That's why we're going to do the fundraisers and create the menu and have people come in and try them, and then they can all say, 'Oh, well, they used to have this' and we will say OK. Well, if we know how to make that, if not, we'll figure it out. So our whole plan is working community on everything."
The two want to open as a steakhouse with a goal to work with local farmers. They plan to be open by capacity only a couple days a week for dinner to give the Adams community a different place to eat.
"During peak hours, Friday night, Saturday night, Sunday night, service steaks, when everyone's looking to go get some dinner with the family, and you have to drive to Dalton, and you have to drive to Williamstown or Pittsfield," Mendelsohn said.
The closures of the Firehouse Cafe and Haflinger Haus have left a gap in evening dining choices in Adams.
The two still need some permits. Once they open the restaurant portion, they would like to bring back the four-lane candlepin alley on the first floor and bring in a pool league. They're also looking to open up the second level for concerts and bring back the church that used to be there.
The building had been owned and operated by the Polish Roman Catholic Society of St. Stanislaus Kostka until it closed in 2009 because of finances. The hall was built in 1912 at a cost of $15,000.
It was sold in 2012 and opened as the Adams Ale House in a year later; it closed in 2017 but reopened under new management for a few months the following year.
"We want to revibe the vibe so that the community knows you know what yeah it's the Old Ale House," Farrar said.
They are looking for volunteers to help come and clean up the space. Contact Farrar for more information at 207-693-2927.
